Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 11, 2017
First Reading: Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus4who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life, for whom I give thanks, not I alone, but also all the churches of the Gentiles5and greet the church at their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is among the first-fruits of Asia in Christ6Greet Mary, who has labored much among you7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow captives, who are noble among the Apostles, and who were in Christ prior to me8Greet Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord9Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you22I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord23Gaius, my host, and the entire church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen25But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial26(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles27to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
Psalm 145
1The Praise of David himself. I will extol you, O God, my king. And I will bless your name, in this time and forever and ever2Throughout every single day, I will bless you. And I will praise your name, in this time and forever and ever3The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy. And there is no end to his greatness4Generation after generation will praise your works, and they will declare your power5They will tell of the magnificent glory of your sanctity. And they will discourse of your wonders6And they will talk about the virtue of your terrible acts. And they will describe your greatness7They will shout about the memory of your abundant sweetness. And they will exult in your justice8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9The Lord is sweet to all things, and his compassion is upon all his works10O Lord, may all your works confess to you, and let your holy ones bless you11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and they will declare your power12so as to make known to the sons of men your power and the glory of your magnificent kingdom13Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion is with all, from generation to generation. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works14The Lord lifts up all who have fallen down, and he sets upright all who have been thrown down15O Lord, all eyes hope in you, and you provide their food in due time16You open your hand, and you fill every kind of animal with a blessing17The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works18The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth19He will do the will of those who fear him, and he will heed their supplication and accomplish their salvation20The Lord watches over all who love him. And he will destroy all sinners21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name, in this time and forever and ever
Gospel: Luke 16.9-15
9And so I say to you, make friends for yourself using iniquitous mammon, so that, when you will have passed away, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles10Whoever is faithful in what is least, is also faithful in what is greater. And whoever is unjust in what is small, is also unjust in what is greater11So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours13No servant is able to serve two lords. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.14But the Pharisees, who were greedy, were listening to all these things. And they ridiculed him15And he said to them: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of men. But God knows your hearts. For what is lifted up by men is an abomination in the sight of God
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the importance of community and the prudent use of resources. The first reading from Romans is a heartfelt farewell from Paul, where he acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and communities, highlighting the value of unity and mutual support. This passage emphasizes the strength found in shared faith and collaboration. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts focus to Jesus’ teachings on wealth and service, urging us to use our resources wisely and remain faithful in our stewardship, while cautioning against the pitfalls of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on relationships—whether with others or with material wealth. Paul’s letter underscores the bonds within the Christian community, while Jesus’ parable reminds us that our relationship with wealth is a reflection of our faithfulness. Both readings call us to trustworthiness and integrity, whether in our interactions with others or in our management of resources.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to be faithful in our duties and generous with our resources, using them to foster positive relationships and support others. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize God over material wealth, cultivate a spirit of service, and embrace generosity. By doing so, we build a community grounded in faith and trustworthiness, reflecting the values upheld by Paul and taught by Jesus.